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Post by rockymountaineer on Oct 31, 2023 0:11:26 GMT
We've all seen prices in the catalogs and product announcements these days. But I'm always amazed at how easily a broad array of expensive products can hit the street at the same time. And November/December are notorious months where product makes its way to the States en mass. Yet as expensive as these jewels are nowadays, there seems to be no shortage of buyers. I admit I'm somewhat guilty of this to some degree, but I also have my limits.
Anyway... I happened to see a Mr. Muffin's Trains YouTube video last night, featuring the custom-run Lionel VisionLine Big Boy #4000 he produced. It's the one with the name "Big Boy" written in chalk lettering on the front of the smokebox/boiler. I had to play the segment of the video 2 or 3 times, where Steve mentioned he received a pallet of 110 of those monsters. I wanted to make sure my ears heard him correctly.
As an aside... Lionel's minimum production quantity for custom-run locomotives in 2023 was 40. So for Steve to have received 110 of them implies he had a good number of those pre-sold... otherwise why carry the risk of too much unsold inventory beyond Lionel's minimum requirement?
John Brady of Brady's Train Outlet in PA also produced a custom-run Big Boy. This one also has "Big Boy" written in chalk, and it also has the US Flag on the boiler as well. Brady reportedly ordered 85 units as stated on his YouTube video promo. He's also doing a special-run of Lionel's VisionLine CA-1 UP caboose, and Brady's version has the US Flag on it.
And lastly... Jeff Konczal of The Train Loft is expecting his custom-run Big Boy decorated in UP's Heritage Denver & Rio Grande Western paint scheme... one that Lionel has done a few times over the years on its SD70ACe diesel offerings -- most recently earlier this year -- but never on a steam locomotive. His custom-run units are due to arrive in-store on November 1st.
Personally, the D&RGW's Aspen Gold paint scheme with black mountains makes for one cool look. And I can't wait to see how that model was actually manufactured. I hear voices calling me on that one, but my hand hasn't written the check yet. LOL!!!  Jeff told me he's also producing an Lionel Aux Tender in matching Aspen Gold as well as a 4-pack of Atlas/MTH Premier 18" passenger cars (baggage, 2 coaches and an observation) with the color-matching D&RGW heritage paint scheme in Aspen Gold and black mountains... similar to a run MTH did many years ago. That is gonna make one stellar train, if you have the budget and the broad curves to enjoy a Big Boy with that paint scheme in all its glory.
Not sure how many units Jeff is doing, but I know its more than Lionel's minimum production quantity of 40. So between Mr. Muffin's Trains, Brady's Trains and The Train Loft... that's one heck of a number of custom-run Big Boys that are arriving at dealers ALONG WITH LIONEL'S REGULAR PRODUCTION RUN.
So if we think Lionel's prices are giving folks a reason to hesitate buying, think again. Life is short... the world is crazy... and folks seem to be buying model trains like there's no tomorrow. And let's not forget to mention these Vision Line Big Boys are arriving 1 month ahead of schedule... on the heels of the 2024 VisionLine Triplex announcement, whose pre-order deadline is just around the corner (November 17th) for most dealers. OUCH!!!! 
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Post by david1 on Oct 31, 2023 1:04:27 GMT
Yes it does seem the special runs are running wild and the people are buying them. Eric S of Eric's trains was at Legacy trains to receive his second special run which is a legacy diesel switcher. There was a stack of them, 150 of them for him to autograph the box. A little bit less than those big boys but a 150 units none the less.
There are some people posting that the special runs are a flop, I think not, they are selling in huge amounts and apparently the dealers are loving it also. I think Lionel and MTH have hit on something big and as long people are buying and dealers are happy, Lionel and MTH will keep making them.
Dave
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Post by rockymountaineer on Oct 31, 2023 1:41:16 GMT
... they are selling in huge amounts and apparently the dealers are loving it also. I think Lionel and MTH have hit on something big and as long people are buying and dealers are happy, Lionel and MTH will keep making them. ... Dave, I'm amazed when I go back and look through the catalogs... and there are SO MANY expensive items PAGE AFTER PAGE. Locomotives carrying $1800+ MSRP... those Big Boys are close to $3K. Then you get to the specialty freight cars with sounds, where prices have hit $500 MSRP for a VisionLine 3-pack of reefers and stock cars. Sheesh!!!!  And let's not even talk about passenger car sets. Even the woodside passenger cars based on MTH tooling that Lionel purchased have nearly DOUBLED in price -- just because the box is now orange. Simply astounding.
Some of the Lionel fanboys think I'm "complaining". But I'm really just making an observation and stating what many folks have gotta be thinking when they see this craziness. The YouTubers never talk about things from this perspective, because they're keeping their videos as upbeat as possible, so as to get more clicks and more subscribers. At some point though, I wonder when this train goes off the rails. But for now, there seems to be no end in sight.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Oct 31, 2023 5:43:51 GMT
…. And lastly... Jeff Konczal of The Train Loft is expecting his custom-run Big Boy decorated in UP's Heritage Denver & Rio Grande Western paint scheme... one that Lionel has done a few times over the years on its SD70ACe diesel offerings -- most recently earlier this year -- but never on a steam locomotive. His custom-run units are due to arrive in-store on November 1st.
Personally, the D&RGW's Aspen Gold paint scheme with black mountains makes for one cool look. And I can't wait to see how that model was actually manufactured. I hear voices calling me on that one, but my hand hasn't written the check yet. LOL!!! Jeff told me he's also producing an Lionel Aux Tender in matching Aspen Gold as well as a 4-pack of Atlas/MTH Premier 18" passenger cars (baggage, 2 coaches and an observation) with the color-matching D&RGW heritage paint scheme in Aspen Gold and black mountains... similar to a run MTH did many years ago….
Welcome!…. to Crazytown!
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Post by keithb on Oct 31, 2023 9:14:13 GMT
With these scary prices, who needs halloween.  |
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Post by Adam on Oct 31, 2023 11:56:09 GMT
Most of my holiday budget went into flights to Florida to visit family. Now the cost of the four tickets is equivalent to about 1 and a half Lionel high-end engines, so no trains for me this Christmas.
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Post by josef on Oct 31, 2023 12:12:48 GMT
To be honest, there are several items I would like to have, but I have to get back to reality and tell myself that these are actually toys that adults play with in a hobby that I enjoy, but the outlay can go toward more important things and one day these toys maybe end up broken and if really wanted, keep checking the secondary market for lower affordable pricing.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 31, 2023 13:53:40 GMT
And let's not forget to mention these Vision Line Big Boys are arriving 1 month ahead of schedule... on the heels of the 2024 VisionLine Triplex announcement, whose pre-order deadline is just around the corner (November 17th) for most dealers. OUCH!!!!
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Post by rockymountaineer on Oct 31, 2023 15:11:32 GMT
And let's not forget to mention these Vision Line Big Boys are arriving 1 month ahead of schedule... on the heels of the 2024 VisionLine Triplex announcement, whose pre-order deadline is just around the corner (November 17th) for most dealers. OUCH!!!!
Folks are just now receiving the Lionel AC&W passenger cars that have OBS dates of 7/28/2023. So that seems to indicate we now need to allow 3 months for "on the water" shipping and Lionel warehouse processing of product to their dealer network... followed by arrival on our doorstep. So I'm thinking MAYBE mid-2024, if we're lucky. Say July/Aug 2024. We shall see.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 1, 2023 22:12:43 GMT
Hi folks,
I received a Triplex email tonight from a dealer. And FWIW, it states Lionel’s ETA for the Triplex offerings is 2Q/3Q2024. So start saving those pennies now!!!
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Post by Spice7 on Nov 1, 2023 23:57:05 GMT
I hope all the dealers are successful selling their products.
I just had my garage door springs, etc. replaced and one of my toilets replaced and two sofas and a tv replaced!
That is my train budget. Anything that I ordered a while back is all I am purchasing.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Nov 2, 2023 0:28:07 GMT
Hi folks,
I received a Triplex email tonight from a dealer. And FWIW, it states Lionel’s ETA for the Triplex offerings is 2Q/3Q2024. So start saving those pennies now!!!
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 2, 2023 15:29:52 GMT
... David, which Triplex did you get? And is that in addition to the D&RGW Big Boy set?!Brian, truth be told... I haven't quite pulled the trigger on Train Loft's Big Boy yet. Jeff (at Train Loft) is only taking cash/check payments-in-full right now, since he was expecting his D&RGW Big Boys to arrive yesterday (11/1). No credit card transactions on this monster, which I would have preferred since one of my cards has a nice cash-back feature AND a no-interest until late-2024 payment plan... a nice way to extend payments over time at no extra cost. OTOH, writing a $3K check for the Big Boy now makes the outlay VERY intense.
So I have a different set of voices talking to me right now... the practical kind. Not to mention I expect I'll be hearing from Pat's Trains this month too, as MTH announced their Shays are due to arrive in-house any day now. When all these product arrivals converge, reality can hit pretty hard. And this always seems to happen around November/December.
I still like the 18" Atlas/MTH Premier D&RGW passenger cars that Train Loft will be doing as just a 4-pack... slated for arrival in 2024. And I already own two Lionel SD-70ACe's in the matching Aspen Gold with black mountains paint scheme that will pair nicely with them. So as unique as the "fantasy" VisionLine D&RGW Big Boy is likely to be, I'm not sure I can swing it right now. Although I might feel better about such a huge expenditure, if I sell lots of trains at the Allentown ATMA show on Nov 11/12. Fingers crossed!!!
As for the Triplex... the plan is to pre-order the D&RGW model... and I'm in the process of making my own "super set" consisting of various western RR rolling stock (Vision reefers, Vision stock cars, boxcars, tankers, flatcars, a crane/tender set, and a Vision caboose). It will be quite the "super set" indeed, and it's been fun building the set with a combination of existing and new pieces of rolling stock. Definitely a highlight for 2024... something to look forward to next year. At this point, I don't even need a 2024 catalog... as I'm already well into my 2024 "budget"!!!!
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Post by ptc on Nov 2, 2023 17:09:41 GMT
Boy, you got that correct, David.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 2, 2023 17:18:49 GMT
David, only your 2024 budget? It is getting so that almost every part of the year is expensive! |
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Jeff told me he's also producing an Lionel Aux Tender in matching Aspen Gold as well as a 4-pack of Atlas/MTH Premier 18" passenger cars (baggage, 2 coaches and an observation) with the color-matching D&RGW heritage paint scheme in Aspen Gold and black mountains... similar to a run MTH did many years ago. That is gonna make one stellar train, if you have the budget and the broad curves to enjoy a Big Boy with that paint scheme in all its glory.
And let's not even talk about passenger car sets. Even the woodside passenger cars based on MTH tooling that Lionel purchased have nearly DOUBLED in price -- just because the box is now orange. Simply astounding.
